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And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
and healing every sickness and
every disease among the people.
(Matthew 9:35)
As Christians we are called to be soul winners for our Lord. When we join our efforts with those of our fellow Christians in our churches and synods, we can accomplish much for the sacred cause of our Lord's glorious kingdom. In our text we see our Savior engaged in His saving Gospel work; and we can learn from Him that our foremost duty is to carry on Home Missions; for He preaches the Gospel first of all in the cities and villages of His home country.
Even in so-called Christian countries like the United States and Canada, millions of people have no connection with any church; untold numbers of children receive no religious education and training, either in homes or in churches; and hundreds of small towns rarely, if ever, hear the Gospel preached in them. Realizing this, we see the urgent need of Home Missions, of doing mission work where we are, in the community, in the country which we call home. Every Christian has the privilege and the duty to do this work and to help his church in bringing the Gospel to those who do not know it.
Again, we can here learn from our Savior what we are to preach in our mission work - not the vagaries of the so-called Social Reform Gospel, but the Gospel of His kingdom, the old, old Gospel of God's saving and forgiving love over against poor, perishing sinners in Jesus, His only-begotten Son. This Gospel has the divine power to change the heart of sinful man; and where it brings sinners to repentance and faith, there the fruits of a holy, Christian life will not be wanting. Finally, we see that our Savior also pities the sick and the poor in their distress and helps them in their bodily afflictions. We may therefore well establish medical missions, hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions of mercy, in which we attend to the bodily wants of our fellow men, but also, for the sake of their immortal souls, bring them the blessed Gospel of their Savior.
Take the task He gives you gladly,
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth,
"Here am I, send me, send me!"
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.
[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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